The Goodguy Badge

[StudentMI]

Has anyone read this essay by Anton Lavey? Yes, the founder of the Church of Satan.

Basically it says that all acts are innately selfish, but the one with the Goodguy Badge fools himself and others into believing he acts out of supreme goodness. It’s a supremely cynical little tract but well worth reading.

 

[Beryllos]

It’s a supremely cynical little tract but well worth reading.

It’s a short read and I’ve just read it. However, I am not sure that it was worth reading. It is cynical, but I would reserve the word “supremely” for a better exposition of cynicism.

In this essay, Lavey asserts but doesn’t really defend his thesis. He presents several dubious anecdotes and caricatures (e.g., evangelist, philanthropist, concerned citizen). He nods in the general direction of psychology and philosophy.

The problem is that Lavey looks upon faith, hope, and love, such as it is in the real world, but does not see or comprehend. I suspect that he has little or no experience of true charity. How then can he write about goodness?

There is one thing about his essay that intrigues me for a moment. Toward the end, he appears to have a kind of optimism that a day will come when all will see the truth and speak the truth, when deception will be impossible because a person’s true intentions will as plainly visible as the clothes he wears. It sounds like a kind of progressivism, with a bit of gnosticism mixed in. I wonder if this notion is prevalent in his cult.

 

[JanR]

I’m not reading anything by the founder of the Church of Satan.

 

[Dolphin]

I’m all for reading about different religions and studying their theology because I find it interesting and helps us understand others.

But when it comes to satanism, perhaps I’m not tolerant or welcoming, but I will not entertain the thought of delving into that theology for a second. It is just pure evil.

 

[adamhovey1988]

all acts are innately selfish

That sounds a lot like Luther and Calvin

 

[drac16]

I’ve never read that particular essay, but I’m sure it’s fine. LaVey was undoubtedly a bright man. He could have accomplished a lot if he had turned to God.